Event-driven safety notification based on automated incident monitoring

ABSTRACT

A system for facilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, the system including a network monitoring module, an assessment module, a resource monitoring module, and a resource response module. The network monitoring module is configured for monitoring signals received over a data network for a presence of one or more event notifying signals indicative of a relevant incident. The assessment module is configured for assessing a response of the one or more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the response. The resource monitoring module is configured for monitoring a status of a resource tasked to the response of the event notifying signal. The resource response module is configured for communicating the response to the resource tasked to the response.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/236,086 filed Dec. 28, 2018, titled“Event-Driven Safety Notification Based on Automated IncidentMonitoring” (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,643,457), which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/796,291filed Oct. 27, 2017, titled “Automated Response to Duress in DistressSignals” (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,176,701). As a continuation of Ser. No.16/236,086, this application further claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/624,487 filed Jan. 31, 2018, titled “Event-DrivenSafety Notification Based on Automated Incident Monitoring,” and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/252,788 filed Aug. 31, 2016 (now U.S.Pat. No. 9,870,695), which claims priority from and is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/179,207, filed Jun. 10, 2016 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,483,931), which claims priority from and is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/886,552 filed Oct.19, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,390,614), which claims benefit of priorityto U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/065,378, filed Oct. 17, 2014,titled “System and Method for Automated Response to Distress Signal.”All applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to event response, and, morespecifically, to enabling response to event notifying signals sent byindividuals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Current technology for summoning help in the event of an emergencyrelies on the ability of a user of the technology to “dial 911,” whichis to say that a user of the technology must secure access to atelephone, unlock the telephone, correctly enter a telephone number tosummon help, and then describe the situation to a dispatch operator onthe other end of the call.

In emergencies in the real world, the time and capacity necessary toperform all of these operations are generally not available to personssubject to the emergency during the course of the emergency. Simply put,a user has neither the time nor the concentration to “unlock, dial, andbeg for help” while being threatened with violence. In the case ofmedical emergencies, the user may further lack capacity to “unlock,dial, and beg for help” as he or she teeters on the border of lostconsciousness. The paradigm of “unlock, dial, and beg for help” worksfor some people in some situations, but the real emergencies faced bymany people, particularly people field-deployed to dangerous situations,are not well-served.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the disclosure comprises a system for facilitatingautomated response to an event notifying signal. In some embodiments,the system comprises a network monitoring module, and assessment module,a resource monitoring module, and a resource response module. In someembodiments, the network monitoring module is configured for monitoringsignals received over a data network for a presence of one or more eventnotifying signals indicative of a relevant incident. In someembodiments, the assessment module is configured for assessing aresponse of the one or more event notifying signals and a resourcetasked to the response. In some embodiments, the resource monitoringmodule is configured for monitoring a status of a resource tasked to theresponse of the event notifying signal. In some embodiments, theresource response module is configured for communicating the response tothe resource tasked to the response.

In some embodiments, the network monitoring module is configured formonitoring signals from social media, news media sources, weather data,government announcements, traffic bulletins, flight schedules, or anyother publicly accessible data source. In some embodiments, the networkmonitoring module is configured for monitoring signals from sources notpublicly accessible, such as secure data, sensitive data, or licenseddata.

In some embodiments, the assessment module assesses one or more of asource, a frequency, or a transmission medium of an event notifyingsignal. In some embodiments, the assessment module may estimate alikelihood of a relevant incident based on one or more of thesecharacteristics, e.g. event notifying signal from major media outletsmay have a higher likelihood of being indicative of a relevant incident.In some embodiments, the assessment module may use the frequency of anevent notifying signal to estimate a likelihood of a relevant incident.For example, a high frequency of event notifying signals transmittingfrom a social media source may be indicative of a relevant incident. Insome embodiments, the assessment module assesses the transmission mediaof event notifying signals. In some embodiments, the transmission mediumof an event notifying signal may be used to assess a relevant incident.For example, event notifying signals predominantly transmitting fromwired sources may be indicative of a wireless network failure. Eventnotifying signals predominantly transmitting from wireless sources maybe indicative of a power distribution failure. In some embodiments, theevent notifying signals may be assessed by assessing more than onecharacteristic in conjunction. E.g. the concurrence of a high frequencyof event notifying signals indicating a first relevant incident on onetype of transmission medium or a type of source, and a high frequency ofevent notifying signals indicating the absence of the first relevantincident on a second type of transmission medium or second type ofsource. Such a disparity or contradiction may indicate that one or moresource or transmission medium has been jeopardized. In some embodiments,the assessment module may assess a pattern of event notifying signalsover time or location.

In some embodiments, the resource monitoring module is configured formonitoring a status of a resource tasked to the response of the eventnotifying signal. In some embodiments, the resource monitoring modulefurther monitors a sensor associated with the resource. A resource maybe a device, an email address, a phone number, an actuator, a vehicle,or any system configured to receive communication from the resourceresponse module. In some embodiments, a resource is a portableelectronic device. In some embodiments, a resource is a mobile phone. Insome embodiments, a sensor is a camera, thermometer, microphone,speaker, light sensor, acoustic sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer, GPSmodule, barometric sensor, or other sensor configured to measure ordetect a status of the resource or of the environment of the resource.In some embodiments, a sensor detects a disarticulation of a resourceattachment a from a sensor location. In some embodiments, a resourceattachment is an emergency rip-cord.

Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an ecosystem for facilitating automated response to anevent notifying signal, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a multifunction mobile computingdevice facilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3A illustrates a multifunction mobile computing device equippedwith an attachment for facilitating automated response to an eventnotifying signal, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3B illustrates a multifunction mobile computing device equippedwith an attachment for facilitating automated response to an eventnotifying signal, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a multifunction mobile computingdevice facilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer system configured to implementaspects of the system and method for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal, in accordance with some embodiments

FIG. 6 illustrates an example heat map of a multifunction mobilecomputing device facilitating automated response to an event notifyingsignal, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a server module for facilitating automated responseto an event notifying signal, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the followingdetailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in orderto provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However,it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that someembodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, andnetworks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarilyobscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed asecond contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a firstcontact, without departing from the intended scope. The first contactand the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the samecontact.

The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. As used in the description and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willalso be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to andencompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” dependingon the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [astated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event],” depending on the context.

In some embodiments, the disclosure comprises a system for facilitatingautomated response to an event notifying signal. In some embodiments,the system comprises a network monitoring module, and assessment module,a resource monitoring module, and a resource response module. In someembodiments, the network monitoring module is configured for monitoringsignals received over a data network for a presence of one or more eventnotifying signals indicative of a relevant incident. In someembodiments, the assessment module is configured for assessing aresponse of the one or more event notifying signals and a resourcetasked to the response. In some embodiments, the resource monitoringmodule is configured for monitoring a status of a resource tasked to theresponse of the event notifying signal. In some embodiments, theresource response module is configured for communicating the response tothe resource tasked to the response.

In some embodiments, the network monitoring module is configured formonitoring signals from social media, news media sources, weather data,government announcements, traffic bulletins, flight schedules, or anyother publicly accessible data source. In some embodiments, the networkmonitoring module is configured for monitoring signals from sources notpublicly accessible, such as secure data, sensitive data, or licenseddata.

In some embodiments, the assessment module assesses one or more of asource, a frequency, or a transmission medium of an event notifyingsignal. In some embodiments, the assessment module may estimate alikelihood of a relevant incident based on one or more of thesecharacteristics, e.g. event notifying signal from major media outletsmay have a higher likelihood of being indicative of a relevant incident.In some embodiments, the assessment module may use the frequency of anevent notifying signal to estimate a likelihood of a relevant incident.For example, a high frequency of event notifying signals transmittingfrom a social media source may be indicative of a relevant incident. Insome embodiments, the assessment module assesses the transmission mediaof event notifying signals. In some embodiments, the transmission mediumof an event notifying signal may be used to assess a relevant incident.For example, event notifying signals predominantly transmitting fromwired sources may be indicative of a wireless network failure. Eventnotifying signals predominantly transmitting from wireless sources maybe indicative of a power distribution failure. In some embodiments, theevent notifying signals may be assessed by assessing more than onecharacteristic in conjunction. E.g. the concurrence of a high frequencyof event notifying signals indicating a first relevant incident on onetype of transmission medium or a type of source, and a high frequency ofevent notifying signals indicating the absence of the first relevantincident on a second type of transmission medium or second type ofsource. Such a disparity or contradiction may indicate that one or moresource or transmission medium has been jeopardized. In some embodiments,the assessment module may assess a pattern of event notifying signalsover time or location.

In some embodiments, the resource monitoring module is configured formonitoring a status of a resource tasked to the response of the eventnotifying signal. In some embodiments, the resource monitoring modulefurther monitors a sensor associated with the resource. A resource maybe a device, an email address, a phone number, an actuator, a vehicle,or any system configured to receive communication from the resourceresponse module. In some embodiments, a resource is a portableelectronic device. In some embodiments, a resource is a mobile phone. Insome embodiments, a sensor is a camera, thermometer, microphone,speaker, light sensor, acoustic sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer, GPSmodule, barometric sensor, or other sensor configured to measure ordetect a status of the resource or of the environment of the resource.In some embodiments, a sensor detects a disarticulation of a resourceattachment a from a sensor location. In some embodiments, a resourceattachment is an emergency rip-cord.

In some embodiments, the system for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal further comprises a resource sequencingmodule. In some embodiments, the resource sequencing module isconfigured for assigning a sequence of resources tasked to the response.In some embodiments, the sequence is based, at least in part, on astatus of a resource, a usage pattern of the resource, or an elapsedtime. For example, a first resource may be tasked to a response. If astatus of said first resource indicates the first resource to beinadequate, a second resource may be tasked to the response. In someembodiments, the system for facilitating automated response to an eventnotifying signal further comprises a resource association module. Insome embodiments, the resource association module associates one or moreresources with a user. In some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceand a desktop computer may be associated with a user. In someembodiments, the resource sequencing module is configured for sequencingthe resources associated with a user. For example, a desktop computerassociated with a user may be tasked to a response. Based on a usagepattern or elapsed time, the desktop computer may be assessed to beinadequate. The mobile phone associated with the user may then be taskedto the response.

In some embodiments the system for facilitating automated response to anevent notifying signal further comprises a third-party associationmodule configured for associating a resource with a third-party. In someembodiments, this association is based, at least in part, on a status ofthe third-party, a record of proximity of the third-party to theresource, or a record of interaction between the third-party and theresource. In some embodiments, the third-party is a device, an emailaddress, a phone number, an actuator, a vehicle, or any systemconfigured to receive communication. In some embodiments the system forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal furthercomprises a third-party response module configured for communicating aresponse to the third-party associated with the resource tasked to theresponse. An example might be that a user associated with the resourcehas a scheduled meeting with a third-party. An event notifying signalindicative of a relevant incident delaying the user might be assessedand a response communicated to the third-party. For another example, aresource may be tasked to a response. Based on a usage pattern orelapsed time, the resource may be assessed to be inadequate. If athird-party has been associated with the resource, the third-partyresponse module may communicate a response to the third-party.Alternatively, if a third-party has not been associated with theresource, a third-party may be associated with the resource and thethird-party response module may further communicate a response to thenewly associated resource. For example, a resource tasked to a responsemay be associated with a user and a third-party. If the resource istasked to communicate a response to the user, but is assessed to beinadequate, the third-party may be contacted to communicate a responseto the user. In some embodiments, the system for facilitating anautomated response may associate a third-party based, at least in part,on a characteristic of the other third-parties associated with aresource. For example, if a plurality of similar establishments, such asbanks or Italian restaurants, is associated with a resource, anadditional bank or Italian restaurant may be assessed as a likelyassociation and associated with the resource.

In some embodiments, the system for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal further comprises a real-time communicationmodule. In some embodiments, the real-time communication module isconfigured for communicating a response condition descriptionindication. In some embodiments, the response condition descriptioninformation is communicated to a user of a resource in response to theevent notifying signal. In some embodiments, the real-time communicationmodule is configured for receiving a condition description indication.In some embodiments, the condition description indication is receivedfrom the user of the resource. In some embodiments, the conditiondescription indication is received for transmission with the eventnotifying signal. For example, the system for facilitating automatedresponse may send a user health status inquiry to a resource associatedwith the user. The user may then response to the inquiry with theirhealth status. This may be selected from a list of responses or the usermay compose their own. If the user fails to respond within a time frame,the resource may respond. The system for facilitating automated responsemay then transmit the user or resource response with the event notifyingsignal. For example, the system may send a health status inquiry to aresource associated with a soldier in response to an event notifyingsignal indicative of a relevant danger event. The soldier could thenrespond with their status. The soldier's response may then betransmitted with the event notifying signal to the soldier's squad orother military unit. In some embodiments, a condition descriptionindication is received not in response to the communication of aresponse condition description indication. For example, a journalistassociated with a resource may pull an emergency ripcord. This actionwould be detected by a sensor associated with the resource. The systemfor facilitating automated response would then receive a conditiondescription indication. Said condition description indication could thenbe transmitted with an event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the disclosure comprises a method for facilitatingautomated response to an event notifying signal. In some embodiments,the method for facilitating automated response comprises monitoringsignals received over a data network, assessing a response to the one ormore event notifying signal, monitoring a status of a resource, andcommunicating the response to the resource. In some embodiments, thesignals are monitored for a presence of one or more event notifyingsignals indicative of a relevant incident. In some embodiments,assessing a response of the one or more event notifying signals furthercomprises assessing a resource tasked to the response. In someembodiments, monitoring a status of a resource further comprisesmonitoring a status of a resource tasked to the response of the eventnotifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method for facilitating automated responsefurther comprises assessing one or more of a source, a frequency, or atransmission medium of an event notifying signal. In some embodiments, afrequency of an event notifying signal is a quantity of event notifyingsignals averaged over a period of time. In some embodiments, a frequencyof an event notifying signal is a quantity of event notifying signalsaveraged over a geographic location. In some embodiments, a source of anevent notifying signal is a portable electronic device. In someembodiments, a source may be social media, news media sources, weatherdata, government announcements, traffic bulletins, flight schedules, orany other publicly accessible data source. In some embodiments, a sourcemay not be publicly accessible, such as secure data source, sensitivedata source, or licensed data source.

In some embodiments, the monitoring a status of a resource tasked torespond further comprises monitoring a sensor associated with theresource. A resource may be a device, an email address, a phone number,an actuator, a vehicle, or any system configured to receive a response.In some embodiments, a resource is a portable electronic device. In someembodiments, a resource is a mobile phone. In some embodiments, a sensoris a camera, thermometer, microphone, speaker, light sensor, acousticsensor, accelerometer, magnetometer, GPS module, barometric sensor, orother sensor configured to measure or detect a status of the resource orof the environment of the resource. In some embodiments, a sensordetects a disarticulation of a resource attachment from a sensorlocation. In some embodiments, a resource attachment is an emergencyrip-cord.

In some embodiments, the method for facilitating automated furthercomprises assigning a sequence of resources tasked to the response. Insome embodiments, the sequence is based, at least in part, on a statusof a resource, a usage pattern of the resource, or an elapsed time. Forexample, a first resource a may be tasked to a response. If a status ofsaid first resource indicates the first resource to be inadequate, asecond resource may be tasked to the response. In some embodiments, themethod for facilitating automated response further comprises associatingone or more resources with a user. In some embodiments, a portableelectronic device and a desktop computer may be associated with a user.In some embodiments, the method sequences resources associated with auser. For example, a desktop computer associated with a user may betasked to a response. Based on a usage pattern or elapsed time, thedesktop computer may be assessed to be inadequate. The mobile phoneassociated with the user may then be tasked to the response.

In some embodiments, the method for facilitating automated responsefurther comprises associating one or more resources with a third-party.In some embodiments, the associating is based, at least in part, on astatus of the third-party, a record of proximity of the third-party to aresource, or a record of interaction between the third-party and aresource. In some embodiments, the third-party is a device, an emailaddress, a phone number, an actuator, a vehicle, or any systemconfigured to receive public communication. In some embodiments, themethod for facilitating automated response further comprisescommunicating a response to the third-party associated with the resourcetasked to the response. In some embodiments, resource associations maybe prioritized.

In some embodiments, the method for facilitating automated responsefurther comprises communicating a response condition descriptionindication. In some embodiments, this response condition descriptionindication is communicated to a user of a resource in response to theevent notifying signal. In some embodiments, the method for facilitatingautomated response further comprises receiving a condition descriptionindication from the user of the resource for transmission with the eventnotifying signal.

In some embodiments, the disclosure comprises non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions. Insome embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one or moreprocessors of a network-connected computing device. In some embodiments,the program instructions are by a processor to implement a networkmonitoring module. In some embodiments, a network monitoring module isconfigured for monitoring signals received over a data network. In someembodiments, the network monitoring module monitors signals for apresence of one or more event notifying signals indicative of a relevantincident. In some embodiments, the program instructions are executableby a processor to implement an assessment module. In some embodiments,an assessment module is configured for assessing a response of the oneor more event notifying signals. In some embodiments, an assessmentmodule is configured for assessing a resource tasked to the response. Insome embodiments, the program instructions are executable by a processorto implement a resource monitoring module. In some embodiments, aresource monitoring module is configured for monitoring a status of aresource. In some embodiments, the resource monitoring module isconfigured for monitoring a status of a resource tasked to the responseof the event notifying signal. In some embodiments, the programinstructions are executable by a processor to implement a resourceresponse module configured for communicating a response. In someembodiments, the resource response module is configured forcommunicating a response to the resource tasked to the response.

In some embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumfurther comprises program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessor to implement an event priority module. In some embodiments, anevent priority module is configured for assessing one or more of asource, a frequency, or a transmission medium of an event notifyingsignal. In some embodiments, an event priority module is configured formodifying an event priority in based, at least in part, on a conditiondescription indication from a resource.

In some embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumfurther comprises program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessors to implement a resource sequencing module. In someembodiments, a resource sequencing module is configured for assigning asequence of resources tasked to the response. In some embodiments, thesequence is based, at least in part, on a status of a resource, a usagepattern of the resource, or an elapsed time.

In some embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumfurther comprises program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessors to implement a resource association module. In someembodiments, a resource association module is configured for associatingone or more resources with a user.

In some embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumfurther comprises program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessors to implement a third-party association module. In someembodiments, a third-party association module is configured forassociating one or more resources with a third-party based, at least inpart, on a status of the third-party, a record of proximity of thethird-party to a resource, or a record of interaction between thethird-party and a resource. In some embodiments, the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium further comprises program instructionsexecutable by the one or more processors to implements a third-partyresponse module. In some embodiments, a third-party response module isconfigured for communicating a response to the third-party associatedwith the resource tasked to the response.

In some embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumfurther comprises program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessors to implement a real-time communication module. In someembodiments, the real-time communication module is configured forcommunicating a response condition description indication. In someembodiments, the real-time communication module is configured forcommunicating a response condition description indication to a user of aresource in response to the event notifying signal. In some embodiments,the real-time communication module is configured for receiving acondition description indication from the user of the resource fortransmission with the event notifying signal.

Various embodiments of a system and method for facilitating automatedresponse to an event notifying signal are disclosed. Some embodimentsinclude a peripheral device for use in causing a multifunction mobilecomputing device to facilitate automated response to an event notifyingsignal includes an attachment for a multifunction mobile computingdevice. In some embodiments, the attachment removably articulates to asensor location coupled to the housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device. In some embodiments, the attachment removablyarticulates to a sensor location in a manner detectable to a sensorhoused at the sensor location. In some embodiments, the peripheraldevice includes a tether for removably articulating the attachment to auser of the multifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments,upon application of force to the tether in a direction away from thesensor location, the sensor housed at the sensor location detectsremoval of the attachment and causes the multifunction mobile computingdevice to transmit an event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes an audio outputconnector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the audio output connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes an audio outputconnector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and the attachment includes an electrically-conductivearticulating component dimensioned for removable articulation to theaudio output connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a digital dataconnector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the digital data connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a magnetic peripheralarticulation connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and the attachment includes an articulating componentpolarized for magnetic removable articulation to the magnetic peripheralarticulation connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes an electric powertransmission connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the electric powertransmission connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a radio frequencyantennae coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, the attachment includes an electronic device having a dataconnection to the sensor location via a radio frequency channel betweenthe attachment and the multifunction mobile computing device, and thedisarticulation includes an attenuation of the data connection.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a radio frequencyantennae coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, the attachment includes an electronic device having a dataconnection to the sensor location via a radio frequency channel betweenthe attachment and the multifunction mobile computing device, and thedisarticulation includes a loss of the data connection.

Various embodiments of a system and method for facilitating automatedresponse to an event notifying signal are disclosed. In someembodiments, a system for facilitating automated response to an eventnotifying signal includes an attachment for a multifunction mobilecomputing device. In some embodiments, the attachment removablyarticulates to a sensor location coupled to a housing of themultifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the systemincludes a computer program product in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the program instructionsare computer-executable by the multifunction mobile computing device toimplement detecting a disarticulation of the attachment from the sensorlocation on the multifunction mobile computing device, and, responsiveto the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensorlocation on the multifunction mobile computing device, transmitting toan event notifying signal response receiver over a radio-frequencynetwork from a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing ofthe multifunction mobile computing device the event notifying signal.

Some embodiments present a toggle control to allow a user to prevent thetransmission of an event notifying signal after detachment of theattachment or to cause transmission of an ‘all clear’ to cancel an eventnotifying signal. In some embodiments, the program instructions arefurther computer-executable to implement, responsive to the detectingthe disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, presenting an event notifyingsignal control interface capable of receiving an order from a user ofthe multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of theevent notifying signal, and, responsive to the order from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of theevent notifying signal, preventing transmission of the event notifyingsignal or broadcasting an all-clear signal.

Some embodiments include the ability to transmit or block transmissionof an event notifying signal on a multifunction mobile computing devicein spite of the ‘locked screen’ condition of on the multifunction mobilecomputing device. In some embodiments, the program instructions arefurther computer-executable to implement, responsive to the detectingthe disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a locked screencondition of the multifunction mobile computing device, and presentingan event notifying signal control interface capable of receiving anorder from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device tocontrol parameters of transmission of the event notifying signal.

Some embodiments present a data-entry interface. In some embodiments,wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable toimplement, responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of theattachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobilecomputing device, over-riding a locked screen condition of themultifunction mobile computing device, and presenting an event notifyingsignal data input interface capable of receiving condition descriptionindications from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device fortransmission with the event notifying signal.

Some embodiments support user entry of duress codes. In someembodiments, the program instructions are further computer-executable toimplement, responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of theattachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobilecomputing device, presenting an event notifying signal control interfacecapable of receiving an order from a user of the multifunction mobilecomputing device to prevent transmission of the event notifying signal.In some embodiments, the presenting the event notifying signal controlinterface capable of receiving the order from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of theevent notifying signal further includes presenting an event notifyingsignal control interface capable of receiving a duress indication orderfrom the user of the multifunction mobile computing device. In someembodiments, the program instructions are further computer-executable toimplement, responsive to receiving the duress indication order from theuser of the multifunction mobile computing device, indicating over auser interface of the multifunction mobile computing device preventionof transmission of the event notifying signal, and transmitting theevent notifying signal with a duress indicator.

Some embodiments capture sensor data for transmission in conjunctionwith the transmission of event notifying signals. Non-limiting examplesof such data include location data, audio, video, movement information,vital sign information, and information from third-party sensor devicesassociated with a multifunction mobile computing device. In someembodiments, the program instructions are further computer-executable toimplement, responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of theattachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobilecomputing device, capturing input data received from one or more sensorsof the multifunction mobile computing device, and transmitting to theevent notifying signal response receiver over the radio-frequencynetwork from the radio-frequency transmitter located within the housingof the multifunction mobile computing device the input data receivedfrom the one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing location datadescribing a location of the multifunction mobile computing device, andtransmitting to the event notifying signal response receiver over theradio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device thelocation data describing the location of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing input data receivedfrom one or more external sensors associated with the multifunctionmobile computing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the input data received from theone or more external sensors associated with the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing audio input datareceived from one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the audio input data received fromthe one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing video input datareceived from one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the video input data received fromthe one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing motion input datareceived from one or more motion sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the motion input data receivedfrom the one or more motion sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing vital sign input datareceived from one or more vital sign sensors reporting to themultifunction mobile computing device, and transmitting to the eventnotifying signal response receiver over the radio-frequency network fromthe radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the vital sign input data receivedfrom the one or more vital sign sensors reporting to the multifunctionmobile computing device.

Various embodiments allow for the attachment to connect to the sensorlocation of the multifunction mobile computing device in different wayswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the sensor location includes an audio output connectorcoupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device, andthe attachment includes an articulating component dimensioned forremovable articulation to the audio output connector. In someembodiments, the sensor location includes an audio output connectorcoupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device, andthe attachment includes an electrically-conductive articulatingcomponent dimensioned for removable articulation to the audio outputconnector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a digital dataconnector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the digital data connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a magnetic peripheralarticulation connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and the attachment includes an articulating componentpolarized for magnetic removable articulation to the magnetic peripheralarticulation connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes an electric powertransmission connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the electric powertransmission connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a radio frequencyantennae coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, the attachment includes an electronic device having a dataconnection to the sensor location via a radio frequency channel betweenthe attachment and the multifunction mobile computing device, and thedisarticulation includes an attenuation of the data connection.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a radio frequencyantennae coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, the attachment includes an electronic device having a dataconnection to the sensor location via a radio frequency channel betweenthe attachment and the multifunction mobile computing device, thedisarticulation includes a loss of the data connection.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a radio frequencyantennae coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, the attachment includes an electronic device having a dataconnection to the sensor location via a radio frequency channel betweenthe attachment and the multifunction mobile computing device, and thedisarticulation includes an increase in a distance between the sensorlocation and the attachment.

Some embodiments support the transmission of an event notifying signalin a ‘silent alarm’ mode that allows for transmission of the eventnotifying signal without notification of persons in the vicinity of themultifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the programinstructions computer-executable to implement transmitting to an eventnotifying signal response receiver over a radio-frequency network from aradio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the event notifying signal furtherinclude program instructions computer-executable to implementtransmitting to an event notifying signal response receiver over aradio-frequency network from a radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the eventnotifying signal without presenting any visible or audible indication ofthe transmission of the event notifying signal.

Some embodiments support the transmission of an event notifying signalin a ‘local alert’ mode that allows for transmission of the eventnotifying signal without notification of persons in the vicinity of themultifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the programinstructions are further computer-executable to implement, responsive tothe detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensorlocation on the multifunction mobile computing device, providing anaudible indication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, providing a vibration as anindication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, providing light from a visiblelight source as an indication of the transmission of the event notifyingsignal.

Some embodiments include a method for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal. In some embodiments, the method includesdetecting a disarticulation from a sensor location on a multifunctionmobile computing device of an attachment removably articulated to thesensor location, and, responsive to the detecting the disarticulation ofthe attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobilecomputing device, transmitting to an event notifying signal responsereceiver over a radio-frequency network from a radio-frequencytransmitter located within a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device of the attachment, presenting anevent notifying signal control interface capable of receiving an orderfrom a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to preventtransmission of the event notifying signal, and responsive to the orderfrom a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to preventtransmission of the event notifying signal, transmitting an all-clearsignal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a lockedscreen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device, andpresenting an event notifying signal control interface capable ofreceiving an order from a user of the multifunction mobile computingdevice to control parameters of transmission of the event notifyingsignal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a lockedscreen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device, andpresenting an event notifying signal data input interface capable ofreceiving an condition description indications from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device for transmission with the eventnotifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, presenting an eventnotifying signal control interface capable of receiving an order from auser of the multifunction mobile computing device to presenttransmission of the event notifying signal. In some embodiments, thepresenting the event notifying signal control interface capable ofreceiving the order from a user of the multifunction mobile computingdevice to prevent transmission of the event notifying signal furtherincludes presenting an event notifying signal control interface capableof receiving a duress indication order from the user of themultifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the methodfurther includes responsive to receiving the duress indication orderfrom the user of the multifunction mobile computing device, indicatingover a user interface of the multifunction mobile computing deviceprevention of transmission of the event notifying signal, andtransmitting the event notifying signal with a duress indicator.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing input datareceived from one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and transmitting to the event notifying signal response receiverover the radio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitterlocated within the housing of the multifunction mobile computing devicethe input data received from the one or more sensors of themultifunction mobile computing device.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing location datadescribing a location of the multifunction mobile computing device, andtransmitting to the event notifying signal response receiver over theradio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device thelocation data describing the location of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the method further includes responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing input datareceived from one or more external sensors associated with themultifunction mobile computing device, and transmitting to the eventnotifying signal response receiver over the radio-frequency network fromthe radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the input data received from theone or more external sensors associated with the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing audio input datareceived from one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the audio input data received fromthe one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing video input datareceived from one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the video input data received fromthe one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing motion inputdata received from one or more motion sensors of the multifunctionmobile computing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the motion input data receivedfrom the one or more motion sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing vital sign inputdata received from one or more vital sign sensors reporting to themultifunction mobile computing device, and transmitting to the eventnotifying signal response receiver over the radio-frequency network fromthe radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the vital sign input data receivedfrom the one or more vital sign sensors reporting to the multifunctionmobile computing device.

In some embodiments, the transmitting to an event notifying signalresponse receiver over a radio-frequency network from a radio-frequencytransmitter located within a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device the event notifying signal further includestransmitting to an event notifying signal response receiver over aradio-frequency network from a radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the eventnotifying signal without presenting any visible or audible indication ofthe transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, providing an audibleindication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, providing a vibration asan indication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, providing light from avisible light source as an indication of the transmission of the eventnotifying signal.

Some embodiments include a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium including program instructions. In some embodiments, the programinstructions are executable by one or more processors of a multifunctionmobile computing device to cause the multifunction mobile computingdevice to implement detecting a disarticulation from a sensor locationon a multifunction mobile computing device of an attachment removablyarticulated to the sensor location, and responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, transmitting to an eventnotifying signal response receiver over a radio-frequency network from aradio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device of the attachment, presenting anevent notifying signal control interface capable of receiving an orderfrom a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to preventtransmission of the event notifying signal, and responsive to the orderfrom a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to preventtransmission of the event notifying signal, preventing transmission ofthe event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a lockedscreen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device, andpresenting an event notifying signal control interface capable ofreceiving an order from a user of the multifunction mobile computingdevice to control parameters of transmission of the event notifyingsignal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a lockedscreen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device, andpresenting an event notifying signal data input interface capable ofreceiving an condition description indications from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device for transmission with the eventnotifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, presenting an eventnotifying signal control interface capable of receiving an order from auser of the multifunction mobile computing device to presenttransmission of the event notifying signal. In some embodiments, theprogram instructions executable by the one or more processors of themultifunction mobile computing device to cause the multifunction mobilecomputing device to implement presenting the event notifying signalcontrol interface capable of receiving the order from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of theevent notifying signal further include program instructions executableby the one or more processors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice to cause the multifunction mobile computing device to implementpresenting an event notifying signal control interface capable ofreceiving a duress indication order from the user of the multifunctionmobile computing device. In some embodiments, the program instructionsare executable by one or more processors of a multifunction mobilecomputing device to cause the multifunction mobile computing device toimplement, responsive to receiving the duress indication order from theuser of the multifunction mobile computing device, indicating over auser interface of the multifunction mobile computing device preventionof transmission of the event notifying signal, and transmitting theevent notifying signal with a duress indicator.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing input datareceived from one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and transmitting to the event notifying signal response receiverover the radio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitterlocated within the housing of the multifunction mobile computing devicethe input data received from the one or more sensors of themultifunction mobile computing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing location datadescribing a location of the multifunction mobile computing device, andtransmitting to the event notifying signal response receiver over theradio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device thelocation data describing the location of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing input datareceived from one or more external sensors associated with themultifunction mobile computing device, and transmitting to the eventnotifying signal response receiver over the radio-frequency network fromthe radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the input data received from theone or more external sensors associated with the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing audio input datareceived from one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the audio input data received fromthe one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing video input datareceived from one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the video input data received fromthe one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing motion inputdata received from one or more motion sensors of the multifunctionmobile computing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the motion input data receivedfrom the one or more motion sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing vital sign inputdata received from one or more vital sign sensors reporting to themultifunction mobile computing device, and transmitting to the eventnotifying signal response receiver over the radio-frequency network fromthe radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the vital sign input data receivedfrom the one or more vital sign sensors reporting to the multifunctionmobile computing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions executable by the one ormore processors of the multifunction mobile computing device to causethe multifunction mobile computing device to implement transmitting toan event notifying signal response receiver over a radio-frequencynetwork from a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing ofthe multifunction mobile computing device the event notifying signalfurther include program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessors of the multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement transmitting to anevent notifying signal response receiver over a radio-frequency networkfrom a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the event notifying signal withoutpresenting any visible or audible indication of the transmission of theevent notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, providing an audibleindication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, providing haptic feedbackas an indication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, providing a vibration asan indication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a multifunction mobile computing device to cause themultifunction mobile computing device to implement, responsive to thedetecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor locationon the multifunction mobile computing device, providing light from avisible light source as an indication of the transmission of the eventnotifying signal.

Some embodiments include a system for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal. In some embodiments, the system includes anetwork monitoring module configured for monitoring signals receivedover a data network for a presence of one or more event notifyingsignals transmitted over a radio-frequency network from aradio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of a multifunctionmobile computing device responsive to detecting a disarticulation of anattachment from a sensor location on a multifunction mobile computingdevice, and an assessment module configured for assessing priority ofthe one or more event notifying signals transmitted over theradio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin the housing of a multifunction mobile computing device responsiveto detecting the disarticulation of an attachment from the sensorlocation on the multifunction mobile computing device, and a resourceresponse module configured for communicating the event notifying signalsto resources tasked to respond to the event notifying signals.

In some embodiments, the system includes a logging module configured forreceiving condition description indications from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device for transmission with the eventnotifying signal. In some embodiments, the system includes a real-timecommunication module configured for communicating response conditiondescription indications to a user of the multifunction mobile computingdevice in response to the event notifying signal, and receivingcondition description indications from a user of the multifunctionmobile computing device for transmission with the event notifyingsignal.

In some embodiments, the system includes a response instructioncommunication module configured for communicating response instructionsto a user of the multifunction mobile computing device in response tothe event notifying signal. In some embodiments, the system includes aresponder update diffusion module configured for communicating to theresources tasked to respond to the event notifying signals sensorinformation gathered from the multifunction mobile computing device inresponse to the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the system includes an assessment module configuredfor assessing patterns in multiple event notifying signals and selectingappropriate responses to one or more event notifying signals. In someembodiments, the system includes a responder instruction moduleconfigured for communicating to the resources tasked to respond to theevent notifying signals automated instructions selected based on sensorinformation gathered from the multifunction mobile computing device inresponse to the event notifying signal.

Some embodiments include a method for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal. In some embodiments, the method includesmonitoring signals received over a data network for a presence of one ormore event notifying signals transmitted over a radio-frequency networkfrom a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of amultifunction mobile computing device responsive to detecting adisarticulation of an attachment from a sensor location on amultifunction mobile computing device, assessing priority of the one ormore event notifying signals transmitted over the radio-frequencynetwork from the radio-frequency transmitter located within the housingof a multifunction mobile computing device responsive to detecting thedisarticulation of an attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, and communicating the eventnotifying signals to resources tasked to respond to the event notifyingsignals.

In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving conditiondescription indications from a user of the multifunction mobilecomputing device for transmission with the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes communicating responsecondition description indications to a user of the multifunction mobilecomputing device in response to the event notifying signal, andreceiving condition description indications from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device for transmission with the eventnotifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes communicating responseinstructions to a user of the multifunction mobile computing device inresponse to the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the method further includes communicating to theresources tasked to respond to the event notifying signals sensorinformation gathered from the multifunction mobile computing device inresponse to the event notifying signal. In some embodiments, the methodfurther includes assessing patterns in multiple event notifying signalsand selecting appropriate responses to one or more event notifyingsignals.

In some embodiments, the method further includes communicating to theresources tasked to respond to the event notifying signals automatedinstructions selected based on sensor information gathered from themultifunction mobile computing device in response to the event notifyingsignal.

Some embodiments include a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium including program instructions. In some embodiments, the programinstructions are executable by one or more processors of anetwork-connected computing device to implement a network monitoringmodule monitoring signals received over a data network for a presence ofone or more event notifying signals transmitted over a radio-frequencynetwork from a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of amultifunction mobile computing device responsive to detecting adisarticulation of an attachment from a sensor location on amultifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the programinstructions are executable by one or more processors of anetwork-connected computing device to implement an assessment moduleassessing priority of the one or more event notifying signalstransmitted over the radio-frequency network from the radio-frequencytransmitter located within the housing of a multifunction mobilecomputing device responsive to detecting the disarticulation of anattachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobilecomputing device. In some embodiments, the program instructions areexecutable by one or more processors of a network-connected computingdevice to implement a resource response module communicating the eventnotifying signals to resources tasked to respond to the event notifyingsignals.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a network-connected computing device to implement alogging module receiving condition description indications from a userof the multifunction mobile computing device for transmission with theevent notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a network-connected computing device to implement areal-time communication module communicating response conditiondescription indications to a user of the multifunction mobile computingdevice in response to the event notifying signal, and receivingcondition description indications from a user of the multifunctionmobile computing device for transmission with the event notifyingsignal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a network-connected computing device to implement aresponse instruction communication module communicating responseinstructions to a user of the multifunction mobile computing device inresponse to the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a network-connected computing device to implement aresponder update diffusion module communicating to the resources taskedto respond to the event notifying signals sensor information gatheredfrom the multifunction mobile computing device in response to the eventnotifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a network-connected computing device to implement anassessment module assessing patterns in multiple event notifying signalsand selecting appropriate responses to one or more event notifyingsignals.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are executable by one ormore processors of a network-connected computing device to implement aresponder instruction module communicating to the resources tasked torespond to the event notifying signals automated instructions selectedbased on sensor information gathered from the multifunction mobilecomputing device in response to the event notifying signal.

Some embodiments include a system for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal. In some embodiments, the system includes ahousing, a sensor location coupled to the housing, a processor locatedwithin the housing, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, aradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing, and anattachment for the multifunction mobile computing device. In someembodiments, the attachment removably articulates to the sensor locationcoupled to the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device.Some embodiments include a computer program product in thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, wherein the program instructions arecomputer-executable to implement detecting a disarticulation of theattachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and responsive to the detecting the disarticulation ofthe attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobilecomputing device, transmitting to an event notifying signal responsereceiver over a radio-frequency network from the radio-frequencytransmitter located within the housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, presenting an event notifyingsignal control interface capable of receiving an order from a user ofthe multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of theevent notifying signal, and, responsive to the order from a user of themultifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of theevent notifying signal, preventing transmission of the event notifyingsignal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a locked screencondition of the multifunction mobile computing device and presenting anevent notifying signal control interface capable of receiving an orderfrom a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to controlparameters of transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a locked screencondition of the multifunction mobile computing device, and presentingan event notifying signal data input interface capable of receivingcondition description indications from a user of the multifunctionmobile computing device for transmission with the event notifyingsignal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, and presenting an event notifyingsignal control interface capable of receiving an order from a user ofthe multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of theevent notifying signal. In some embodiments, the presenting the eventnotifying signal control interface capable of receiving the order from auser of the multifunction mobile computing device to preventtransmission of the event notifying signal further includes presentingan event notifying signal control interface capable of receiving aduress indication order from the user of the multifunction mobilecomputing device. In some embodiments, the program instructions arefurther computer-executable to implement, responsive to receiving theduress indication order from the user of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, indicating over a user interface of the multifunctionmobile computing device prevention of transmission of the eventnotifying signal, and transmitting the event notifying signal with aduress indicator.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing input data receivedfrom one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computing device,and transmitting to the event notifying signal response receiver overthe radio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device theinput data received from the one or more sensors of the multifunctionmobile computing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing location datadescribing a location of the multifunction mobile computing device, andtransmitting to the event notifying signal response receiver over theradio-frequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device thelocation data describing the location of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing input data receivedfrom one or more external sensors associated with the multifunctionmobile computing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the input data received from theone or more external sensors associated with the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing audio input datareceived from one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the audio input data received fromthe one or more audio sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing video input datareceived from one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the video input data received fromthe one or more video sensors of the multifunction mobile computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing motion input datareceived from one or more motion sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and transmitting to the event notifying signalresponse receiver over the radio-frequency network from theradio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the motion input data receivedfrom the one or more motion sensors of the multifunction mobilecomputing device.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, capturing vital sign input datareceived from one or more vital sign sensors reporting to themultifunction mobile computing device, and transmitting to the eventnotifying signal response receiver over the radio-frequency network fromthe radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the vital sign input data receivedfrom the one or more vital sign sensors reporting to the multifunctionmobile computing device.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes an audio outputconnector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the audio output connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes an audio outputconnector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and the attachment includes an electrically-conductivearticulating component dimensioned for removable articulation to theaudio output connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a digital dataconnector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computingdevice, and the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the digital data connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes a magnetic peripheralarticulation connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, and the attachment includes an articulating componentpolarized for magnetic removable articulation to the magnetic peripheralarticulation connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes an electric powertransmission connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobilecomputing device, the attachment includes an articulating componentdimensioned for removable articulation to the electric powertransmission connector.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement transmitting to an event notifyingsignal response receiver over a radio-frequency network from aradio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of themultifunction mobile computing device the event notifying signal furtherinclude program instructions computer-executable to implementtransmitting to an event notifying signal response receiver over aradio-frequency network from a radio-frequency transmitter locatedwithin a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the eventnotifying signal without presenting any visible or audible indication ofthe transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, providing an audible indicationof the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, providing haptic feedback as anindication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, providing a vibration as anindication of the transmission of the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the program instructions are furthercomputer-executable to implement, responsive to the detecting thedisarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on themultifunction mobile computing device, providing light from a visiblelight source as an indication of the transmission of the event notifyingsignal.

FIG. 1 depicts an ecosystem for facilitating automated response to anevent notifying signal, in accordance with some embodiments. An eventnotifying signal response receiver 110 included a client interface 115,an event notifying response management module 117, and a database 119.In some embodiments, the event notifying signal response receiver 110maintains logs of event notifying signals and metadata, such as source,time, frequency, location, or transmission links of the event notifyingsignals in the database 119. The event notifying signal responsereceiver 110 receives at the client interface 115 event notifyingsignals over one or more networks 120, for example, a wireless network120 a or a wired network 120 b. In some embodiments, the event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 receives event notifying signals over oneor more combination wired/wireless networks. The event notifying signalsare received at the client interface 115 over a plurality of wirelesscommunication links 125 a-125 n, 130 a-130 n, and wired communicationlinks 135 a-135 n, 140 a-140 n from a plurality of sources.

In the illustrated embodiment, a first set of sources includes MobileMultifunction Computing Devices (MMCD's) 145 a-145 n, also referred toas portable electronic devices, which communicate with the eventnotifying signal response receiver 110 over the first set of wirelesslinks 125 a-125 n. In some embodiments, an MMCD comprise mobile phones,tablet computers, personal digital assistants, or laptop computers. TheMMCD's 145 a-145 n each include a respective event notifying signalmodule 150 a-150 n, for example electronic circuitry or programinstructions executable to cause the MMCD 145 a-145 n to transmit anevent notifying signal to the client interface 115. In the illustratedembodiment, a second set of sources includes servers 155 a-155 n, whichcommunicate with the event notifying signal response receiver 110 overthe second set of wireless receiving links 130 a-130 n. The servers 155a-155 n each include a respective event notifying signal module 160a-160 n, for example electronic circuitry or program instructionsexecutable to cause the server 155 a-155 n to transmit an eventnotifying signal to the client interface 115. In some embodiments, theservers 155 a-155 n include respective databases 157 a-157 n.

In some embodiments, the wireless receiving links 125 a-125 n correspondto respective MMCD's 145 a-145. In other embodiments, more than one MMCD145 a-145 n communicates over less than a corresponding number ofwireless receiving links 125 a-125 n. For example, MMCD's may utilizemultiple access methods such as TDMA, CDMA, Power Data CommunicationsProtocols, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more MMCD's 145a-145 n communicates over more than a corresponding number of wirelessreceiving links 125 a-125 n. For example, an MMCD 145 may utilizemultiple-input, multiple-output orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (MIMO-OFDM), or other protocols or configurations whichtake advantage of multiple antennas, communication receiving links 125a-125 n, and the like.

In some embodiments, the wireless receiving links 130 a-130 n correspondto respective servers 155 a-155 n. In other embodiments, more than oneserver 155 a-155 n communicates over less than a corresponding number ofwireless receiving links 130 a-130 n. For example, servers may utilizemultiple access methods such as TDMA, CDMA, Power Data CommunicationsProtocols, and the like. In some embodiments, one or more servers 155a-155 n communicates over more than a corresponding number of wirelessreceiving links 130 a-130 n. For example, a server 150 may utilizemultiple-input, multiple-output orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (MIMO-OFDM), or other protocols or configurations whichtake advantage of multiple antennas, communication receiving links 130a-130 n, and the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, a third set of sources includes MMCD's165 a-165 n, which communicate with the event notifying signal responsereceiver 110 over the first set of wired receiving links 135 a-135 n.The MMCD's 165 a-165 n each include a respective event notifying signalmodule 170 a-170 n, for example electronic circuitry or programinstructions executable to cause the MMCD 145 a-145 n to transmit anevent notifying signal to the client interface 115. In the illustratedembodiment, a fourth set of sources includes servers 175 a-175 n whichcommunicate with the event notifying signal response receiver 110 overthe second set of wired receiving links 140 a-140 n. The servers 175a-175 n each include a respective event notifying signal module 180a-180 n, for example electronic circuitry or program instructionsexecutable to cause the server 175 a-175 n to transmit an eventnotifying signal to the client interface 115. In some embodiments, thewired receiving links 135 a-135 n correspond to respective MMCD's 165a-165 n. In other embodiments, the MMCD's 165 a-165 n may communicateover more or less than a corresponding number of respective wiredreceiving links 135 a-135 n. In some embodiments, the wired receivinglinks 140 a-140 n correspond to respective servers 175 a-175 n. In otherembodiments, servers 175 a-175 n communicate over more or less than acorresponding number of respective wired receiving links 140 a-140 n. Insome embodiments, the servers 175 a-175 n include respective databases177 a-177 n.

Further, the client interface 115 is configured to transmit over aplurality of wireless communication links 185 a-185 n, 190 a-190 n, andwired links 195 a-195 n, 200 a-200 n to a plurality of resource clients205 a-205 n, 210 a-210 n, 215 a-215 n, and 220 a-220 n, also referred toas resources. In some embodiments, a resource comprises mobile phones,tablet computers, personal digital assistants, special-purpose emergencyresponder radio devices, laptop computers, and the like. In theillustrated embodiment, a first set of resources includes resourceclients 205 a-205 n, which communicate with the event notifying signalresponse receiver 110 over the first set of wireless transmission links185 a-185 n. Communications from the event notifying signal responsereceiver 110 are received at a respective resource interface 225 a-225 nof each resource client 205 a-205 n, for example electronic circuitry orprogram instructions executable to configure the resource client 205a-205 n for reception of an event notifying signal from the clientinterface 115. In some embodiments, a resource client 205 includes morethan one resource interface 225. In some embodiments, a resourceinterface 225 is configured for reception and transmission of eventnotifying signals.

In the illustrated embodiment, a second set of resources includesresource clients 210 a-210 n, which communicate with the event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 over the second set of wirelesstransmission links 190 a-190 n. Communications from the event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 are received at a respective resourceinterface 230 a-230 n of each resource client 210 a-210 n, for exampleelectronic circuitry or program instructions executable to configure theresource client 210 a-210 n for reception of an event notifying signalfrom the client interface 115. In some embodiments, a resource client210 includes more than one resource interface 230. In some embodiments,a resource interface 230 is configured for reception and transmission ofevent notifying signals.

In the illustrated embodiment, a third set of resources includesresource clients 215 a-215 n, which communicate with the event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 over the first set of wired transmissionlinks 195 a-195 n. Communications from the event notifying signalresponse receiver 110 are received at a respective resource interface235 a-235 n of each resource client 215 a-215 n, for example electroniccircuitry or program instructions executable to configure the resourceclient 215 a-215 n for reception of an event notifying signal from theclient interface 115. In some embodiments, a resource client 215includes more than one resource interface 235. In some embodiments, aresource interface 235 is configured for reception and transmission ofevent notifying signals.

In the illustrated embodiment, a fourth set of resources includesresource clients 220 a-220 n, which communicate with the event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 over the second set of wired transmissionlinks 200 a-200 n. Communications from the event notifying signalresponse receiver 110 are received at a respective resource interface240 a-240 n of each resource client 220 a-220 n, for example electroniccircuitry or program instructions executable to configure the resourceclient 220 a-220 n for reception of an event notifying signal from theclient interface 115. In some embodiments, a resource client 220includes more than one resource interface 240. In some embodiments, aresource interface 240 is configured for reception and transmission ofevent notifying signals.

Further, in some embodiments, one or more MMCD's 145 a-145 n and servers155 a-155 n are configured for direct communication with resourceclients 205 a-205 n over a direct communication link 245, for example, awireless or wired network. Accordingly, event notifying signals, or dataembodying event notifying signals, may be communicated directly betweenthe MMCD 145 or the server 155 and the resource client 205.

Although the foregoing system has described various elementsindividually, for example, MMCD's 145 and resource clients 210, this isnot intending to be limiting. For example, the functions of one or moreof an MMCD 145, 165 or servers 155, 175 and the functions of one or moreresource clients 205, 210, 215, 220 may be embodied in the same device.That is to say, in some embodiments, an MMCD 145 a includes an eventnotifying signal module 150 a for transmitting an event notifying signalto the client interface 115. The MMCD 145 a further corresponds to aresource client 210 a, including a resource interface 230 a forreception of an event notifying signal from the client interface 115.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a portable multifunction device 250, ortelephone, in accordance with some embodiments, which may embody one ormore functions of the MMCD's 145, 163, or resource clients 205, 210,215, 220, as previously described. Accordingly, in some embodiments, theportable multifunction device 250 comprises mobile phones, tabletcomputers, personal digital assistants, special-purpose emergencyresponder radio devices, laptop computers, smartwatches, and the like.In the illustrated embodiment, the touch screen 255 of the portableelectronic device 250 displays one or more graphics within a userinterface (UI) 260. In this embodiment, as well as others describedbelow, a user may select one or more of the graphics by making a gestureon the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers 265 (not drawn toscale in the figure) or one or more styluses 270 (not drawn to scale inthe figure).

Device 250 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home”or menu button 275. As described below, the menu button 275 may be usedto navigate to any application in a set of applications that may beexecuted on device 250. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menubutton 275 is implemented as a soft key in the user interface 260displayed on touch screen 255.

In one embodiment, device 250 includes the touch screen 255, the menubutton 275, a push button 280 for powering the device on/off and lockingthe device, volume adjustment button(s) 285, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 290, head set or audio jack 295, and docking/chargingexternal port 300. Push button 280 may be used to turn the power on/offon the device by depressing the button and holding the button in thedepressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device bydepressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process.

In an alternative embodiment, device 250 also may accept verbal inputfor activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone 305.

In some embodiments, the device 250 is equipped with a peripheral orattachment device 310 (e.g., a tether 315 coupled to a plug-styleattachment 320 that is inserted into the audio jack 295 of the portableelectronic device 250) for use in causing the portable electronic device250 to facilitate automated response to an event notifying signal bytransmitting an event notifying signal from the portable electronicdevice 250.

In some embodiments, the peripheral device 310 includes a tether orstrap 315 and a plug-style attachment 320 configured for removablyarticulating the attachment to the portable electronic device 250. Inthe example embodiment, the plug-style attachment 320 removablyarticulates to a sensor location 325 coupled to the housing of theportable electronic device 250, such as the audio jack 295, or a dataport, or the power connector port 300. In some embodiments, theattachment 320 removably articulates to a sensor location 325 in amanner detectable to a sensor housed at the sensor location 325.

Upon becoming alarmed at circumstances in a user's local area, the userof the portable electronic device 250 pulls the tether 315 to causeseparation of the portable electronic device 250 from the peripheraldevice 310 (e.g., the plug attachment 320 is removed from the audio jackof the portable electronic device 250). In some embodiments, uponapplication of force to the tether 315 in a direction away from thesensor location 325, the sensor housed at the sensor location 325detects removal of the attachment 320 and causes the portable electronicdevice 250 to transmit an event notifying signal to event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 over communication channel 125 a ordirectly to the resource client 205 a over the communication channel 245a. Thus, in some embodiments, the act of connecting or disconnecting theattachment 320 itself triggers certain functions of the portableelectronic device 250, such as transmission of an event notifyingsignal. In some embodiments, the act of connecting or disconnecting theattachment 320 itself triggers certain functions of the portableelectronic device 250, such as transmission of an event notifyingsignal, even if the screen 255 of the portable electronic device 250(e.g., of the phone) is in a locked condition and incapable of receivingstandard touchscreen input.

As an example of use of one embodiment, a jogger who gets attacked inthe park while jogging pulls a tether 315 attached to a plug-styleattachment 320 that is inserted into the audio jack of the portableelectronic device 250 (her phone). In some embodiments, the act ofpulling the strap and thereby removing the plug-style attachment 320from the audio jack causes transmission of an event notifying signal toevent notifying signal response receiver 110 over communication channels125 a for routing of the event notifying signal by the event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 over communication channel 185 a to aresource client 205 a in the squad-car of a local policeman.Accordingly, the resource client 205 a may be said to be the resourcetasked to respond to the event notifying signal.

As example of use of another embodiment, a jogger who gets attacked inthe park while jogging pulls a strap 315 attached to a plug-styleattachment 320 that is inserted into the audio jack of the portableelectronic device 250 (his smartwatch). In some embodiments, the act ofpulling the strap 315 and thereby removing the plug-style attachment 320from the audio jack 295 causes transmission of an event notifying signaldirectly to a user-pre-selected resource client 205 a (e.g., a fellowjogger on the trail, for example by sending email, text messages, or anaudio message) over communication channel 245 a.

As example of use of another embodiment, a jogger who gets attacked inthe park while jogging pulls a strap 315 attached to a plug-styleattachment 320 that is inserted into the audio jack 295 of the portableelectronic device 250 (his smartwatch). In some embodiments, the act ofpulling the strap 315 and removing the plug-style attachment 320 fromthe audio jack 295 causes transmission of an event notifying signaldirectly to a user-pre-selected resource client 205 a (e.g., a fellowjogger on the trail, for example by sending email, text messages, or anaudio message) over communication channels 245 a and transmission of anevent notifying signal to event notifying signal response receiver 110over communication channels 125 a for routing of the event notifyingsignal by the event notifying signal response receiver 110 overcommunication channel 185 b to a resource client 205 b in the squad-carof a local policeman. In some embodiments, the event notifying signaltransmitted to resource clients 205 a-205 b can include details such asa map pointing to the location of portable electronic device 250 and anysensor data (e.g., audio or video, position, vital signs picked up froma personal fitness sensor coupled to the portable electronic device 250by a radio-frequency link) received from portable electronic device 250.

As example of use of another embodiment, a Marine who gets attacked in acombat zone pulls a strap 315 attached to a plug-style attachment 320that is inserted into the power input jack of the portable electronicdevice 250 (his combat radio). In some embodiments, the act of pullingthe strap 315 and removing the plug-style attachment 320 from the audiojack 295 causes transmission of an event notifying signal directly to auser-pre-selected resource client 205 a (e.g., one or more Marines inhis platoon, for example by sending email, text messages, or an audiomessage) over communication channels 245 a and transmission of an eventnotifying signal to event notifying signal response receiver 110 (e.g.,a combat intelligence management server) over communication channels 125a for routing of the event notifying signal by the event notifyingsignal response receiver 110 over communication channel 185 b to aresource client 205 b in a nearby tank. In some embodiments, the eventnotifying signal transmitted to resource clients 205 a-205 b can includedetails such as a map pointing to the location of portable electronicdevice 250 and any sensor data (e.g., audio or video, position, vitalsigns picked up from a personal health sensor coupled to the portableelectronic device 250 by a radio-frequency link) received from portableelectronic device 250.

FIG. 3A illustrates the portable electronic device 250 a equipped withan attachment or peripheral device 310 a for facilitating automatedresponse to an event notifying signal, in accordance with someembodiments. The portable electronic device 250 a is coupled to theperipheral device 310 a including a tether 315 a and an attachment 320 aconnected to a sensor location 325. The portable electronic device 250 aincludes a peripheral antenna 330 a, which, in some embodiments, may beused for communication with either remote sensors or wearable computingor sensor devices (smartwatches, computing goggles) or, in someembodiments, with peripheral device 310 a. The portable electronicdevice 250 a further includes a network antenna 335 a for communicatingwith a data network, such as network 120 a of FIG. 1. The portableelectronic device 250 a further includes a speaker 340 a, the touchscreen 255 a showing a screen control 345, and the microphone 305.Functions of various components of portable electronic device 250 a arediscussed below with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

In some embodiments, peripheral device 310 a is used in and configuredfor use in causing portable electronic device 250 a to facilitateautomated response to event notifying signals. As shown, peripheraldevice 310 a includes an attachment 320 a for a portable electronicdevice 250 a. In some embodiments, the attachment 320 a removablyarticulates to a sensor location 325 a coupled to the housing of theportable electronic device 250 a. In some embodiments, the attachment320 a removably articulates to a sensor location 325 a in a mannerdetectable to a sensor housed at the sensor location 325. In someembodiments, the peripheral device 310 a includes a tether 315 a forremovably articulating the attachment 320 a to a user of the portableelectronic device 250 a. In some embodiments, upon application of forceto the tether 315 a in a direction away from the sensor location 325,the sensor housed at the sensor location 325 a detects removal of theattachment 320 a and causes the multifunction mobile computing device totransmit an event notifying signal from the network antenna 335 a or toa nearby cooperating multifunction mobile computing device from theperipheral antenna 330 a.

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 a includes an audio outputconnector (not visible) coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 a, and the attachment 320 a includes an articulatingcomponent (not visible) dimensioned for removable articulation to theaudio output connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 a includes an audio outputconnector (not visible) coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 a, and the attachment 320 a includes anelectrically-conductive articulating component (not visible) dimensionedfor removable articulation to the audio output connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 a includes a digital dataconnector (not visible) coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 a, and the attachment 320 a includes an articulatingcomponent (not visible) dimensioned for removable articulation to thedigital data connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 a includes a magneticperipheral articulation connector (not visible) coupled to a housing ofthe portable electronic device 250 a, and the attachment 320 a includesan articulating component polarized for magnetic removable articulationto the magnetic peripheral articulation connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 a includes an electricpower transmission connector (not visible), for example, the chargingexternal port 300 a, coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 a, and the attachment 320 a includes an articulatingcomponent dimensioned for removable articulation to the electric powertransmission connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes 325 a a radiofrequency antennae, such as peripheral antenna 330 a coupled to ahousing of the portable electronic device 250 a, the attachment 320 aincludes an electronic device having a data connection to the sensorlocation 325 a via a radio frequency channel between the attachment 320a and the portable electronic device 250 a over peripheral antenna 330 a(e.g., via near field communication or Bluetooth), and thedisarticulation includes an attenuation of the data connection. Thus, insome embodiments, a physical attachment to the portable electronicdevice 250 a is not required for operation as described herein of theperipheral device 310 a. In some embodiments, the peripheral device 310a signals portable electronic device 250 a in response to a detachmentof attachment from a housing, causing transmission of an event notifyingsignal as described herein.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes 325 a a radiofrequency antennae, such as peripheral antenna 330 a coupled to ahousing of the portable electronic device 250 a, the attachment 320 aincludes an electronic device having a data connection to the sensorlocation via a radio frequency channel between the attachment 320 a andthe portable electronic device 250 a over peripheral antenna 330 a(e.g., via near field communication or Bluetooth), and thedisarticulation includes a loss of the data connection. Thus, in someembodiments, a physical attachment to the portable electronic device 250a is not required for operation as described herein of the peripheraldevice 310 a. In some embodiments, the peripheral device 310 a signalsportable electronic device 250 a in response to a detachment ofattachment from a housing, causing transmission of an event notifyingsignal as described herein.

FIG. 2B depicts the portable electronic device 250 b equipped with anattachment or peripheral device 310 b for facilitating automatedresponse to an event notifying signal, in accordance with someembodiments. A portable electronic device 250 b is decoupled from aperipheral device 310 b including a tether 315 b and an attachment 320 bfor connection to a sensor location 325 b. The portable electronicdevice 250 b includes a peripheral antenna 330 b, which, in someembodiments, may be used for communication with either remote sensors orwearable computing or sensor devices (smartwatches, computing goggles)or, in some embodiments, with peripheral device 310 b. The portableelectronic device 250 b further includes a network antenna 335 b forcommunicating with a data network, such as network 120 a of FIG. 1. Theportable electronic device 250 b further includes a speaker 340 b, atouch screen 255 b, and a microphone 305 b. Touch screen 255 b shows anoverride control 350 b, a screen unlock control 345 b, a toolbar 355 b,a configuration control 360 b, and response instructions 365 b. Examplesof response instructions 365 b to a user can include, in the event of amedical emergency, treatment instructions. Examples of responseinstructions 365 b to a user can include, in the event of a securityemergency, descriptions of a suspect. Examples of response instructions365 b to a user can include, in the event of a public emergency,directions to the locations of other users also affected by the publicemergency. In the event of a security emergency, an example of responseinstructions 365 b to a user can include directions to a police station.Functions of various components of portable electronic device 250 b arediscussed below with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

In some embodiments, peripheral device 310 b is used in and configuredfor use in causing portable electronic device 250 b to facilitateautomated response to event notifying signals. As shown, peripheraldevice 310 b includes an attachment 320 b for a portable electronicdevice 250 b. In some embodiments, the attachment 320 b removablyarticulates using plug 370 b to a sensor location 325 b coupled to thehousing of the portable electronic device 250 b. In some embodiments,the attachment 320 b removably articulates to a sensor location 325 b ina manner detectable to a sensor housed at the sensor location 325 b. Insome embodiments, the peripheral device 310 b includes a tether 315 bfor removably articulating the attachment 320 b to a user of theportable electronic device 250 b. In some embodiments, upon applicationof force to the tether 315 b in a direction away from the sensorlocation 325 b, the sensor housed at the sensor location 325 b detectsremoval of the attachment 320 b and causes the portable electronicdevice 250 to transmit an event notifying signal from the networkantenna 335 b or to a nearby cooperating portable electronic device fromthe peripheral antenna 330 b.

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 b includes an audio outputconnector (not visible) coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 b, and the attachment 320 b includes an articulatingcomponent (plug 370 b) dimensioned for removable articulation to theaudio output connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 b includes an audio outputconnector (not visible) coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 b, and the attachment 320 b includes anelectrically-conductive articulating component (plug 370 b) dimensionedfor removable articulation to the audio output connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 b includes a digital dataconnector (not visible) coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 b, and the attachment 320 b includes an articulatingcomponent (plug 370 b) dimensioned for removable articulation to thedigital data connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 b includes a magneticperipheral articulation connector (not visible) coupled to a housing ofthe portable electronic device 250 b, and the attachment 320 b includesan articulating component polarized for magnetic removable articulationto the magnetic peripheral articulation connector.

In some embodiments, the sensor location 325 b includes an electricpower transmission connector (not visible), for example, the chargingexternal port 300 b, coupled to a housing of the portable electronicdevice 250 b, and the attachment 320 b includes an articulatingcomponent (plug 370 b) dimensioned for removable articulation to theelectric power transmission connector (not visible).

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes 325 b a radiofrequency antennae, such as peripheral antenna 330 b coupled to ahousing of the portable electronic device 250 b, the attachment 320 bincludes an electronic device having a data connection to the sensorlocation via a radio frequency channel between the attachment 320 b andthe portable electronic device 250 b over peripheral antenna 330 b(e.g., via near field communication or Bluetooth), and thedisarticulation includes an attenuation of the data connection. Thus, insome embodiments, a physical attachment to the mobile computing device250 b is not required for operation as described herein of theperipheral device 310 b. In some embodiments, the peripheral device 310b signals portable electronic device 250 b in response to a detachmentof the attachment 320 b from a housing, causing transmission of an eventnotifying signal as described herein.

In some embodiments, the sensor location includes 325 b a radiofrequency antennae, such as peripheral antenna 330 b coupled to ahousing of the portable electronic device 250 b, the attachment 320 bincludes an electronic device having a data connection to the sensorlocation 325 b via a radio frequency channel between the attachment 320a and the portable electronic device 250 b over peripheral antenna 330 b(e.g., via near field communication or Bluetooth), and thedisarticulation includes a loss of the data connection. Thus, in someembodiments, a physical attachment to the mobile computing device 250 bis not required for operation as described herein of the peripheraldevice 310 b. In some embodiments, the peripheral device 310 b signalsportable electronic device 250 b in response to a detachment of theattachment 320 b from a housing, causing transmission of an eventnotifying signal as described herein.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable electronicdevices 250. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a portableelectronic device 250 with touch-sensitive displays 255 in accordancewith some embodiments. Touch-sensitive display 255 is sometimes called a“touch screen” for convenience, and may also be known as or called atouch-sensitive display system. Device 250 may include memory 375 (whichmay include one or more computer readable storage mediums), memorycontroller 380, one or more processing units (CPU's) 385, peripheralsinterface 390, RF circuitry 395, audio circuitry 400, speaker 340,microphone 305, input/output (I/O) subsystem 410, other input or controldevices 415, and external port 420. Device 250 may include one or moreoptical sensors 425. These components may communicate over one or morecommunication buses or signal lines 430.

It should be appreciated that device 250 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 250 may have more orfewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or mayhave a different configuration or arrangement of the components. Thevarious components shown in FIG. 4 may be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software, including one ormore signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 375 may include high-speed random access memory and may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memorydevices. Access to memory 375 by other components of device 250, such asCPU 385 and the peripherals interface 390, may be controlled by memorycontroller 380.

Peripherals interface 390 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 385 and memory 375. The one or moreprocessors 385 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 375 to perform various functions fordevice 250 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 390, CPU 385, and memorycontroller 380 may be implemented on a single chip. In some otherembodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 395 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 395 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 395 may include well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 395 may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, alsoreferred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wirelessnetwork, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local areanetwork (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and otherdevices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may useany of a variety of communications standards, protocols andtechnologies, including but not limited to Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speeddownlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA),wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multipleaccess (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.1919a, IEEE 802.1919b, IEEE 802.1919gand/or IEEE 802.1919n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, aprotocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP)and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensiblemessaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol forInstant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), InstantMessaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service(SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, includingcommunication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of thisdocument.

Audio circuitry 400, speaker 340, and microphone 305 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 250. Audio circuitry 400 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 390, converts the audio data to anelectrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 340.Speaker 340 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves.Audio circuitry 400 also receives electrical signals converted bymicrophone 305 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 400 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 390 for processing. Audio data may be retrievedfrom and/or transmitted to memory 375 and/or RF circuitry 395 byperipherals interface 390. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 400 alsoincludes a headset jack (e.g., 295, FIG. 3). The headset jack providesan interface between audio circuitry 400 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 410 couples input/output peripherals on device 250, suchas touch screen 255 and other input control devices 415, to peripheralsinterface 390. I/O subsystem 410 may include display controller 435 andone or more input controllers 440 for other input or control devices.The one or more input controllers 440 receive/send electrical signalsfrom/to other input or control devices 415. The other input controldevices 415 may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rockerbuttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and soforth. In some alternate embodiments, input controller(s) 440 may becoupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port,USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons(e.g., 285, FIG. 2) may include an up/down button for volume control ofspeaker 340 and/or microphone 305. The one or more buttons may include apush button (e.g., 280, FIG. 2).

Touch-sensitive display 255 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 435 receivesand/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 255. Touch screen255 displays visual output to the user. The visual output may includegraphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectivelytermed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visualoutput may correspond to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 255 has a touch-sensitive surface sensor or set of sensorsthat accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact.Touch screen 255 and display controller 435 (along with any associatedmodules and/or sets of instructions in memory 375) detect contact (andany movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen 255 andconverts the detected contact into interaction with user-interfaceobjects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) thatare displayed on touch screen 255. In an exemplary embodiment, a pointof contact between touch screen 255 and the user corresponds to a fingerof the user.

Touch screen 255 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD(light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emittingdiode) technology, although other display technologies may be used inother embodiments. Touch screen 255 and display controller 435 maydetect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of avariety of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed,including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, andsurface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensorarrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contactwith touch screen 255. In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutualcapacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in theiPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

The user may make contact with touch screen 255 using any suitableobject or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth. In someembodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarily withfinger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise thanstylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on thetouch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the roughfinger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command forperforming the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 250 mayinclude a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particularfunctions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive areaof the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visualoutput. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separatefrom touch screen 255 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surfaceformed by the touch screen.

Device 250 also includes power system 445 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 445 may include a power management system, oneor more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 250 may also include one or more optical sensors 425. FIG. 4shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 450 in I/Osubsystem 410. Optical sensor 425 may include charge-coupled device(CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)phototransistors. Optical sensor 425 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 455(also called a camera module); the optical sensor 425 may capture stillimages or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located onthe back of device 250, opposite touch screen display 255 on the frontof the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as aviewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of thedevice so that the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencingwhile the user views the other video conference participants on thetouch screen display.

Device 250 may also include one or more proximity sensors 460. FIG. 4shows proximity sensor 460 coupled to peripherals interface 390.Alternately, proximity sensor 460 may be coupled to input controller 440in I/O subsystem 410. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turnsoff and disables touch screen 255 when the multifunction device isplaced near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 250 includes one or more orientation sensors 465. In someembodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one or moreaccelerometers (e.g., one or more linear accelerometers and/or one ormore rotational accelerometers). In some embodiments, the one or moreorientation sensors include one or more gyroscopes. In some embodiments,the one or more orientation sensors include one or more magnetometers.In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one ormore of global positioning system (GPS), Global Navigation SatelliteSystem (GLONASS), and/or other global navigation system receivers. TheGPS, GLONASS, and/or other global navigation system receivers may beused for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation(e.g., portrait or landscape) of device 250. In some embodiments, theone or more orientation sensors include any combination oforientation/rotation sensors. FIG. 4 shows the one or more orientationsensors 465 coupled to peripherals interface 390. Alternately, the oneor more orientation sensors 465 may be coupled to an input controller440 in I/O subsystem 410. In some embodiments, information is displayedon the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view basedon an analysis of data received from the one or more orientation sensors465.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 475include an operating system, a communication module (or set ofinstructions), contact/motion module (or set of instructions), graphicsmodule (or set of instructions), text input module (or set ofinstructions), Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions), and applications (or sets of instructions). Device/globalinternal state 470 includes one or more of: active application state,indicating which applications, if any, are currently active; displaystate, indicating what applications, views or other information occupyvarious regions of touch screen display 255; sensor state, includinginformation obtained from the device's various sensors and input controldevices 415; state information that indicates which processes controloutput of shared audio or visual resource of a vehicle; ownershiptransition conditions of the shared audio or visual resource; andlocation information concerning the device's location and/or attitude.

In conjunction with touch screen 255, display controller 435, contactmodule, graphics module, and text input module, contacts module may beused to manage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored inapplication internal state 470 of contacts module in memory 475),including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from theaddress book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es),physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating animage with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephonenumbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communicationsby telephone, video conference, e-mail, or IM; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 395, audio circuitry 400, speaker 340,microphone 305, touch screen 255, display controller 435, contactmodule, graphics module, and text input module, telephone module may beused to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephonenumber, access one or more telephone numbers in address book, modify atelephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephonenumber, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when theconversation is completed. As noted above, the wireless communicationmay use any of a variety of communications standards, protocols, andtechnologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 395, audio circuitry 400, speaker 340,microphone 305, touch screen 255, display controller 435, optical sensor425, contact module, graphics module, text input module, contact list,and telephone module, videoconferencing module 3239 includes executableinstructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conferencebetween a user and one or more other participants in accordance withuser instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 395, touch screen 255, displaycontroller 435, contact module, graphics module, and text input module,e-mail client module includes executable instructions to create, send,receive, and manage e-mail in response to user instructions. Inconjunction with image management module, e-mail client module makes itvery easy to create and send e-mails with still or video images takenwith camera module 455.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 395, touch screen 255, displaycontroller 435, contact module, graphics module, and text input module,the instant messaging module 3241 includes executable instructions toenter a sequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, tomodify previously entered characters, to transmit a respective instantmessage (for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or MultimediaMessage Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages orusing XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), toreceive instant messages and to view received instant messages. In someembodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may includegraphics, photos, audio files, video files, and/or other attachments asare supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). Asused herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages(e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages(e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS).

In conjunction with touch screen 255, display controller 435, opticalsensor(s) 425, optical sensor controller 3263, contact module, graphicsmodule, and image management module, camera module 455 includesexecutable instructions to capture still images or video (including avideo stream) and store them into memory 475, modify characteristics ofa still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory475.

In conjunction with touch screen 255, display controller 435, contactmodule, graphics module, text input module, and camera module 455, imagemanagement module includes executable instructions to arrange, modify(e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., ina digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 395, touch screen 255, display systemcontroller 435, contact module, graphics module, and text input module,browser module includes executable instructions to browse the Internetin accordance with user instructions, including searching, linking to,receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well asattachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 395, touch screen 255, display systemcontroller 435, contact module, graphics module, text input module,e-mail client module, and browser module, calendar module 3248 includesexecutable instructions to create, display, modify, and store calendarsand data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists,etc.) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 255, display controller 435, contactmodule, graphics module, and text input module, notes module 3253includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to dolists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 395, touch screen 255, display systemcontroller 435, contact module, graphics module, text input module, GPSmodule, and browser module, map module may be used to receive, display,modify, and store maps and data associated with maps (e.g., drivingdirections; data on stores and other points of interest at or near aparticular location; and other location-based data) in accordance withuser instructions.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules,and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwiserearranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 475 maystore a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, memory 475 may store additional modules and data structuresnot described above.

In some embodiments, device 250 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device250, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons,dials, and the like) on device 250 may be reduced.

The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user,navigates device 250 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that may be displayed on device 250. In such embodiments, thetouchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some otherembodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or otherphysical input control device instead of a touchpad.

While a portable or mobile computing device is shown as one embodimentof a multifunction device, one of skill in the art will readily realizein light of having read the current disclosure that a desktop computeror other computing device may also perform many of the functionsdescribed herein without departing from the scope and intent of thepresent disclosure. Likewise, while touch screen devices are shown asone embodiment of a multifunction device, one of skill in the art willreadily realize in light of having read the current disclosure that adesktop computer or other computing device without a touch screen mayalso perform many of the functions described herein without departingfrom the scope and intent of the present disclosure.

Example Computer System

FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer system configured to implementaspects of the system and method for facilitating automated response toan event notifying, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 5illustrates computer system 500 that is configured to execute any or allof the embodiments described above. In different embodiments, computersystem 500 may be any of various types of devices, including, but notlimited to, a computer embedded in a vehicle, a computer embedded in anappliance, a personal computer system, desktop computer, laptop,notebook, tablet, slate, or netbook computer, mainframe computer system,handheld computer, workstation, network computer, a camera, a set topbox, a mobile device, a consumer device, video game console, handheldvideo game device, application server, storage device, a television, avideo recording device, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem,router, or in general any type of computing or electronic device.

Various embodiments of a system and method for negotiating control of ashared audio or visual resource, as described herein, may be executed onone or more computer systems 500, which may interact with various otherdevices. Note that any component, action, or functionality describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1-4 may be implemented on one or morecomputers configured as computer system 500 of FIG. 5, according tovarious embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, computer system 500includes one or more processors 505 coupled to a system memory 510 viaan input/output (I/O) interface 515. Computer system 500 furtherincludes a network interface 520 coupled to I/O interface 515, and oneor more input/output devices 525, such as cursor control device,keyboard, and display(s). In some cases, it is contemplated thatembodiments may be implemented using a single instance of computersystem 500, while in other embodiments multiple such systems, ormultiple nodes making up computer system 500, may be configured to hostdifferent portions or instances of embodiments. For example, in oneembodiment some elements may be implemented via one or more nodes ofcomputer system 500 that are distinct from those nodes implementingother elements.

In various embodiments, computer system 500 may be a uniprocessor systemincluding one processor 505 a, or a multiprocessor system includingseveral processors 505 a-505 n (e.g., two, four, eight, or anothersuitable number). Processors 505 may be any suitable processor capableof executing instructions. For example, in various embodimentsprocessors 505 may be general-purpose or embedded processorsimplementing any of a variety of instruction set architectures (ISAs),such as the x86, PowerPC, SPARC, or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitableISA. In multiprocessor systems, each of processors 505 may commonly, butnot necessarily, implement the same ISA.

System memory 510 may be configured to store program instructions 530and/or existing state information and ownership transition conditiondata in data storage 535 accessible by processor 505. In variousembodiments, system memory 510 may be implemented using any suitablememory technology, such as static random access memory (SRAM),synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or anyother type of memory. In the illustrated embodiment, programinstructions 530 may be configured to implement a system forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signalincorporating any of the functionality described above. In someembodiments, program instructions and/or data may be received, sent, orstored upon different types of computer-accessible media or on similarmedia separate from system memory 510 or computer system 500. Whilecomputer system 500 is described as implementing the functionality offunctional blocks of previous Figures, any of the functionalitydescribed herein may be implemented via such a computer system.

In one embodiment, I/O interface 515 may be configured to coordinate I/Otraffic between processor 505, system memory 510, and any peripheraldevices in the device, including network interface 520 or otherperipheral interfaces, such as input/output devices 525. In someembodiments, I/O interface 515 may perform any necessary protocol,timing or other data transformations to convert data signals from onecomponent (e.g., system memory 510) into a format suitable for use byanother component (e.g., processor 505). In some embodiments, I/Ointerface 515 may include support for devices attached through varioustypes of peripheral buses, such as a variant of the Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB)standard, for example. In some embodiments, the function of I/Ointerface 515 may be split into two or more separate components, such asa north bridge and a south bridge, for example. Also, in someembodiments some or all of the functionality of I/O interface 515, suchas an interface to system memory 510, may be incorporated directly intoprocessor 505.

Network interface 520 may be configured to allow data to be exchangedbetween computer system 500 and other devices attached to a network 120(e.g., carrier or agent devices) or between nodes of computer system500. Network 120 may in various embodiments include one or more networksincluding but not limited to Local Area Networks (LANs) (e.g., anEthernet or corporate network), Wide Area Networks (WANs) (e.g., theInternet), wireless data networks, some other electronic data network,or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, network interface520 may support communication via wired or wireless general datanetworks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example;via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog voice networksor digital fiber communications networks; via storage area networks suchas Fiber Channel SANs, or via any other suitable type of network and/orprotocol.

Input/output devices 525 may, in some embodiments, include one or moredisplay terminals, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, scanning devices,voice, or optical recognition devices, or any other devices suitable forentering or accessing data by one or more computer systems 500. Multipleinput/output devices 525 may be present in computer system 500 or may bedistributed on various nodes of computer system 500. In someembodiments, similar input/output devices may be separate from computersystem 500 and may interact with one or more nodes of computer system500 through a wired or wireless connection, such as over networkinterface 520.

As shown in FIG. 5, memory 510 may include program instructions 530,which may be processor-executable to implement any element or actiondescribed above. In one embodiment, the program instructions mayimplement the methods described above, such as the methods illustratedby FIG. 24-30. In other embodiments, different elements and data may beincluded. Note that data storage 535 may include any data or informationdescribed above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system 500 ismerely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments. In particular, the computer system and devices may includeany combination of hardware or software that can perform the indicatedfunctions, including computers, network devices, Internet appliances,PDAs, wireless phones, pagers, etc. Computer system 500 may also beconnected to other devices that are not illustrated, or instead mayoperate as a stand-alone system. In addition, the functionality providedby the illustrated components may in some embodiments be combined infewer components or distributed in additional components. Similarly, insome embodiments, the functionality of some of the illustratedcomponents may not be provided and/or other additional functionality maybe available.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that, while various itemsare illustrated as being stored in memory or on storage while beingused, these items or portions of them may be transferred between memoryand other storage devices for purposes of memory management and dataintegrity. Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all of thesoftware components may execute in memory on another device andcommunicate with the illustrated computer system via inter-computercommunication. Some or all of the system components or data structuresmay also be stored (e.g., as instructions or structured data) on acomputer-accessible medium or a portable article to be read by anappropriate drive, various examples of which are described below. Insome embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-accessible mediumseparate from computer system 500 may be transmitted to computer system500 via transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as a network and/or a wireless link. Various embodiments mayfurther include receiving, sending, or storing instructions and/or dataimplemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon acomputer-accessible medium. Generally speaking, a computer-accessiblemedium may include a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium ormemory medium such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk orDVD/CD-ROM, volatile or non-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR,RDRAM, SRAM, etc.), ROM, etc. In some embodiments, a computer-accessiblemedium may include transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as network and/or a wireless link.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example heat map 540 of a multifunction mobilecomputing device, for example, MMCD 145. The illustrated heat map 540 isgenerated from a duration of MMCD 145 at a geographic area, but this isby no means limiting. In some embodiments, a heat map, or record ofdevice use, is generated based on data communication. In someembodiments, a heat map is generated based on energy consumption. Inother embodiments, a heat map is generated based on one or more otherfactors, for example, data from sensors 425, 460, 465. In someembodiments, a heat map is generated based on a pattern of userinteraction, for example, eye tracking. The heat map 540 includes afirst area 545, a second area 550, and a third area 555. Proximate thefirst area 545 is a first location 560, such as a building, structure,or postal address. Accordingly, based at least in part on the record ofduration of MMCD 145 in the first geographic area 545 proximate thefirst location 560, the MMCD 145 may be associated with the firstlocation 560. In some embodiments, the MMCD 145 is further associatewith one or more resources (e.g. 205) associated with the first location560.

By way of example, a pair of students at a university may frequency anestablishment (e.g. first location 560) proximate the first geographicarea 545. Accordingly, the first student's phone (e.g. MMCD 145 a) andthe second student's phone (e.g. MMCD 145 b) have a record of durationin the first geographic area 545. The second student's phone, embodyingone or more functions of a resource client 205 b, may further be theresource tasked to respond to an event notifying signal originating fromthe first student's phone. Thus, in the event that the first student andsecond student have been separated and the first student transmits anevent notifying signal, the second student may be tasked to respond andassist the first student. However, in the event that the secondstudent's phone, or a communication link (e.g. 185 b, 245 b), isunresponsive, an event notifying signal may not reach the secondstudent. Accordingly, the second student's phone and/or the secondstudent may be associated with the first location 560 proximate thefirst geographic area 545. That is to say, in the even that a firstresource tasked to respond (e.g. the second student's phone) cannot bereliable reached, the event notifying signal response receiver 110 maytask a third-party resource (e.g. a phone of the establishmentcorresponding to the first location) to the response, the third-partyresource associate with a prior resource tasked to the response.

Further, an MMCD 145 and/or resource 205 may be associated with aplurality of locations, such as, for example, the second location 565,or the third location 570. In some embodiments, a user may be associatedwith one or more MMCD's 145 or resources 205 based, at least in part, ona pattern of interaction. For example, a first MMCD 145 c (e.g. a phone)and a second MMCD 145 d (e.g. a laptop) may have coincident patterns ofduration at the third location 570 (e.g. a dorm) and the second location(e.g. a library). For example, the first MMCD 145 c may have a patternof duration independent of the second MMCD 145 d, but the opposite maynot be true. That is to say, although the first MMCD 145 c may have apattern of duration at the second location with and without the secondMMCD 145 d, the second MMCD 145 d may not have a pattern of duration atthe second location 565 independent of the first MMCD 145 c.Accordingly, the first and second MMCD's 145 c-145 d may be associatedwith a singular user. In some embodiments, an MMCD 145 or a resource 205is associated with more than one person.

FIG. 7 illustrates a server module for facilitating automated responseto an event notifying signal, in accordance with some embodiments. Someembodiments include a system, such as a system hosting event notifyingresponse management module 117, for facilitating automated response toone or more event notifying signals. In some embodiments, the systemincludes a network monitoring module 600 configured for monitoringsignals received over a data network for a presence of one or more eventnotifying signals transmitted over a radio-frequency network, an opticalnetwork, or an electrical network. In some embodiments, event notifyingresponse management module 117 includes an assessment module 605configured for assessing priority of the one or more event notifyingsignals transmitted over the radio-frequency, optical, or electricalnetwork. In some embodiments, event notifying response management module117 includes a resource response module 610 configured for communicatingthe event notifying signals as response communications to resourcestasked to respond to the event notifying signals.

In some embodiments, the system includes a logging module 2318configured for receiving condition description indications from a userof a resource tasked to respond to an event notifying signal fortransmission with the event notifying signal and generating logs 600 forstorage in a storage medium 2340. In some embodiments, the systemincludes a real-time communication module 2316 configured forcommunicating response condition description indications as responsecommunications to a user of the resource tasked to respond in responseto the event notifying signal, and receiving condition descriptionindications from a user of the resource tasked to respond fortransmission with the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the system includes a response instructioncommunication module configured for communicating response instructionsto a user of the resource tasked to respond in response to the eventnotifying signal. In some embodiments, the system includes a resourceupdate diffusion module configured for communicating to the resourcestasked to respond to the event notifying signals sensor informationgathered from resources tasked to respond or other resources in responseto the event notifying signal.

In some embodiments, the system includes an assessment module 334configured for assessing patterns in multiple event notifying signalsand selecting appropriate responses to one or more event notifyingsignals. In some embodiments, the system includes a resource instructionmodule configured for communicating instructions to the resources taskedto respond to the event notifying signals automated instructionsselected based on sensor information gathered from the resources taskedto respond or other resources in response to the event notifying signal.Examples of instructions to the resources tasked to respond to the eventnotifying signals automated instructions selected based on sensorinformation gathered from the resources tasked to respond or otherresources in response to the event notifying signal can include maps tothe location of the user or visual data relating nearby conditions. Insome embodiments, the event notifying response management module 117receives user input through a user interface.

In some embodiments the system includes a third-party association module615 configured for associating a resource with a third-party. In someembodiments, this association is based, at least in part, on a status ofthe third-party, a record of proximity of the third-party to a resource,or a record of interaction between the third-party and a resource. Insome embodiments, the third-party is a device, an email address, a phonenumber, an actuator, a vehicle, or any system configured to receivecommunication. In some embodiments the system includes a third-partyresponse module 620 configured for communicating a response to thethird-party associated with a resource tasked to a response.

As an example of use of one embodiment, a user associated with aresource 205 a has a scheduled meeting with a third-party. Third-partyassociation module 615 then associates the third-party with the user ofthe resource. An event notifying signal indicative of a relevantincident delaying the user might be assessed by assessment module 605and a communication of the user's delay communicated to the third-partyby third-party response module 620.

As an example of use of another embodiment, a first resource 205 a maybe tasked to a response. If the resource does not have a sufficientpattern of recent use, a resource sequencing module 625 may task asecond resource 205 b to the response. Alternatively, resourcesequencing module 625 may task a second resource 205 b to the responseif the first resource 205 a fails to respond within a desiredcommunication timeframe. If a third-party has been associated with theresource 205 a by third-party association module 615, the third-partyresponse module 620 may communicate a response to the third-party.Alternatively, if a third-party has not been associated with theresource, a third-party may be associated with the resource 205 a andthe third-party response module 620 may then communicate a response tothe newly associated resource 205 a.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments. Signals received over a data networkare monitored for a presence of one or more event notifying signalsindicative of a relevant incident (block 810). Responsive to thepresence of one or more event notifying signals, a response of the oneor more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the responseare assessed (block 820). A status of a resource tasked to the responseof the event notifying signal is monitored (block 830). The response ofthe one or more event notifying signals is communicated to the resourcetasked to the response (840).

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments. Signals received over a data networkare monitored for a presence of one or more event notifying signalsindicative of a relevant incident (block 910). Responsive to thepresence of one or more event notifying signals, a response of the oneor more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the responseare assessed (block 920). One or more of a source, a frequency, or atransmission medium of an event notifying signal is assessed (block 99).A status of a resource tasked to the response of the event notifyingsignal is monitored (block 930). The response of the one or more eventnotifying signals is communicated to the resource tasked to the response(940).

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments. Signals received over a data networkare monitored for a presence of one or more event notifying signalsindicative of a relevant incident (block 1010). Responsive to thepresence of one or more event notifying signals, a response of the oneor more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the responseare assessed (block 1020). A status of a resource tasked to the responseof the event notifying signal is monitored (block 1030). A sensorassociated with the resource is monitored (block 1035). The response ofthe one or more event notifying signals is communicated to the resourcetasked to the response (1040).

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments. Signals received over a data networkare monitored for a presence of one or more event notifying signalsindicative of a relevant incident (block 1110). Responsive to thepresence of one or more event notifying signals, a response of the oneor more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the responseare assessed (block 1120). A status of a resource tasked to the responseof the event notifying signal is monitored (block 1130). A sequence ofresources tasked to the response, wherein the sequence is based, atleast in part, on a status of the resource, a usage pattern of theresource, or an elapsed time (block 1135). The response of the one ormore event notifying signals is communicated to the resource tasked tothe response (1140).

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments. Signals received over a data networkare monitored for a presence of one or more event notifying signalsindicative of a relevant incident (block 1210). Responsive to thepresence of one or more event notifying signals, a response of the oneor more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the responseare assessed (block 1220). A status of a resource tasked to the responseof the event notifying signal is monitored (block 1230). One or moreresources are associated with a user (block 1235). The response of theone or more event notifying signals is communicated to the resourcetasked to the response (1240).

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments. Signals received over a data networkare monitored for a presence of one or more event notifying signalsindicative of a relevant incident (block 1310). Responsive to thepresence of one or more event notifying signals, a response of the oneor more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the responseare assessed (block 1320). A status of a resource tasked to the responseof the event notifying signal is monitored (block 1330). One or moreresources are associated with a third-party based, at least in part, bya status of the third-party, a record of proximity of the third-party tothe resource, or a record of interaction between the third-party and theresource (block 1335). The response of the one or more event notifyingsignals is communicated to the third-party associated with the resourcetasked to the response (1340).

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal, inaccordance with some embodiments. Signals received over a data networkare monitored for a presence of one or more event notifying signalsindicative of a relevant incident (block 1410). Responsive to thepresence of one or more event notifying signals, a response of the oneor more event notifying signals and a resource tasked to the responseare assessed (block 1420). A status of a resource tasked to the responseof the event notifying signal is monitored (block 1430). Responsive tothe event notifying signal, a response condition description indicationis communicated to a user of the resource (block 1435). A conditiondescription indication from the user of the resource is received fortransmission with the event notifying signal (block 1445).

Thus, the disclosure provides, among other things, a system forfacilitating automated response to an event notifying signal. Variousfeatures and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for facilitating automated response toan event notifying signal, the system comprising: a network monitoringmodule configured for monitoring signals received over a data networkfor a presence of one or more event notifying signals indicative of arelevant incident; an assessment module configured for assessing aresponse of the one or more event notifying signals and a resourcetasked to the response; a resource monitoring module configured formonitoring a status of a resource tasked to the response of the eventnotifying signal; and a resource response module configured forcommunicating the response to the resource tasked to the response. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the assessment module is furtherconfigured for assessing one or more of a source, a frequency, or atransmission medium of an event notifying signal.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the network monitoring module is further configured formonitoring a sensor associated with the resource.
 4. The system of claim1, further comprising a resource sequencing module configured forassigning a sequence of resources tasked to the response, wherein thesequence is based, at least in part, on a status of the resource, ausage pattern of the resource, or an elapsed time.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a resource association module configuredfor associating one or more resources with a user.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a third-party association module configuredfor associating one or more resources with a third-party based, at leastin part, on a status of the third-party, a record of proximity of thethird-party to the resource tasked to the response, or a record ofinteraction between the third-party and the resource tasked to theresponse; and a third-party response module configured for communicatinga response to the one or more resources associated with the third-party.7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a real-time communicationmodule configured for: communicating a response condition descriptionindication to a user of a resource in response to the event notifyingsignal, and receiving a condition description indication from the userof the resource for transmission with the event notifying signal.
 8. Amethod for facilitating automated response to an event notifying signalcomprising: monitoring signals received over a data network for apresence of one or more event notifying signals indicative of a relevantincident; assessing a response of the one or more event notifyingsignals and a resource tasked to the response; monitoring a status of aresource tasked to the response of the event notifying signal; andcommunicating the response to the resource tasked to the response. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein the assessing a response furthercomprises assessing one or more of a source, a frequency, or atransmission medium of an event notifying signal.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the monitoring a status of a resource tasked to respondfurther comprises monitoring a sensor associated with the resource. 11.The method of claim 8, further comprising: assigning a sequence ofresources tasked to the response, wherein the sequence is based, atleast in part, on a status of the resource, a usage pattern of theresource, or an elapsed time.
 12. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: associating one or more resources with a user.
 13. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising: associating one or more resourceswith a third-part based, at least in part, on a status of thethird-party, a record of proximity of the third-party to the resourcetasked to the response, or a record of interaction between thethird-party and the resource tasked to the response, and communicating aresponse to the one or more resources associated with the third-party.14. The method of claim 8, further comprising: communicating a responsecondition description indication to a user of a resource in response tothe event notifying signal, and receiving a condition descriptionindication from the user of the resource for transmission with the eventnotifying signal.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcomprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions areexecutable by one or more processors of a network-connected computingdevice to implement: a network monitoring module configured formonitoring signals received over a data network for a presence of one ormore event notifying signals indicative of a relevant incident; anassessment module configured for assessing a response of the one or moreevent notifying signals and a resource tasked to the response; aresource monitoring module configured for monitoring a status of aresource tasked to the response of the event notifying signal; and, aresource response module configured for communicating the response tothe resource tasked to the response.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising programinstructions executable by the one or more processors of themultifunction mobile computing device to cause the mobile multifunctionto implement: an event priority module configured for assessing one ormore of a source, a frequency, or a transmission medium of an eventnotifying signal, and modifying an event priority in based, at least inpart, on a condition description indication from a resource.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, furthercomprising program instructions executable by the one or more processorsof the multifunction mobile computing device to cause the mobilemultifunction to implement: a resource sequencing module configured forassigning a sequence of resources tasked to the response, wherein thesequence is based, at least in part, on a status of the resource, ausage pattern of the resource, or an elapsed time.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, furthercomprising program instructions executable by the one or more processorsof the multifunction mobile computing device to cause the mobilemultifunction to implement: a resource association module configured forassociating one or more resources with a user.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising programinstructions executable by the one or more processors of themultifunction mobile computing device to cause the mobile multifunctionto implement: a third-party association module configured forassociating one or more resources with a third-party based, at least inpart, on a status of the third-party, a record of proximity of thethird-party to the resource tasked to the response, or a record ofinteraction between the third-party and the resource tasked to theresponse, and a third-party response module configured for communicatinga response to the one or more resources associated with the third-party.20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15,further comprising program instructions executable by the one or moreprocessors of the multifunction mobile computing device to cause themobile multifunction to implement: a real-time communication moduleconfigured for communicating a response condition description indicationto a user of a resource in response to the event notifying signal, andreceiving a condition description indication from the user of theresource for transmission with the event notifying signal.